Comparison of notetaking software Computer Informatics 482 regular-tuition-program.pts-ptn.net

Comparison of notetaking software

The table below compares features of notable notetaking software.

1 General features
2 Formatted text features, others
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References

General features

Name	Software license	Cost	Platforms	Organizing principle(s)	Tabbed sections	Synchronizing	PDF annotate, save	Whiteboarding	Keyboard text entry	Write notes via pen-ink	Handwriting Recognition	Printing	Formats	Remarks
AllMyNotes Organizer	Proprietary	Freemium	Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7	tree	No	?	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Proprietary, encrypted. Supports import from plain text, HTML, RTF, EverNote, KeyNote, CSV, images. Exports to plain text, html, rtf.	Access restriction by password, alarms, tasks, icons, rich text, file attachments, outlining, portable, skins, multilingual, autobackup, capture text via tray icon, spell checker, auto-backups (history).
AudioNote - Notepad and Voice Recorder^[1]	Proprietary	Freemium	Android, iOS, Mac OS X, Windows XP/Vista/7	?	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Proprietary. Imports from plain text, images, PDF, audio. Exports to plain text, PDF, audio.	Synchronized note-taking and audio recording.
BasKet Note Pads	GPL	Free	Linux	?	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Rich text (export as HTML)	Features adding, managing notes by category, importing text files, images, sounds, autosave.
Catch Notes	Proprietary	Freemium	Android, iOS, and web-based	Hashtags	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Partial	No	Yes	Text, photo and voice notes, export to CSV or HTML	Passcode protection, reminders, spaces to share notes
CintaNotes	Proprietary	Freemium	Windows	Notebooks, sections, tags	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	?	Proprietary, export to Unicode text, XML and HTML	Tagging and searching for tags, tag hierarchy
Circus Ponies NoteBook	Proprietary	Commercial software	Mac OS X, iOS	indexing	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Proprietary, export: html, opml, rtf, txt, doc, pdf	Features adding, managing note entries, outlining, tabs, tagging, automatic indexing, sketching, diagramming, PDF markup, advanced search features, voice annotated notes, screen clipping, importing files (text, audio, video), link or embed files, etc.
DéjàClick	Proprietary	Commercial software	Linux, Mac OS X, Unix, Windows	?	?	?	No	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	XML	Features ability to annotate live web pages via DéjàNotes and share scripts. Notes may include rich text or HTML and can be printed and saved as a normal web page via the Firefox browser.
Emacs' org-mode	GPL	Free	Linux, Mac OS X, Unix, Windows	tree, tags	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	LaTeX, HTML, DocBook, Taskjuggler, PDF, Freemind, XOXO, iCalendar	org-mode is a major mode of Emacs, fully customisable, use only plain-text, includes ToDos, spreadsheet, deadlines, encryption, reminders, agenda, calendar and many more
Evernote	Proprietary	Freemium	Android, iOS, Mac OS X, Windows XP/Vista/7/Mobile/Phone 7, Palm Pre and web-based	?	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Partial^{[Note 1]}	Yes	Yes	Notes stored as XML. Both Free and Paid version allows notes in any file type.
Gnote	GPL v3	Free	Linux	?	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	NoteXmlFormat, HTML, PDF	Port of Tomboy to C++, wiki-style linked notes
Jarnal	GPL	Free	Any Java enabled platform: Linux, Mac OS X, Windows	?	No	Yes^{[Note 2]}	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial^{[Note 3]}	Yes	Yes	ad-hoc (zip compatible archive containing an SVG per page, a config file, optional background PDFs/images). Can export to txt, html, jpg, pdf.
Keeppy	Proprietary	Free	web-based	?	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	HTML/JSON.	Allows compiling notes into stories and share them
KeepNote	GPL	Free	Cross platform (Python + GTK): Linux, Mac OS X, Windows	tree	?	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	HTML/XML. Export to HTML.	Notes are saves as HTML files. Organization is done via a file tree and XML.
KeyNote	MPL	Free	Windows	tree	Yes	?	?	?	Yes	?	?	?
KNote	Creative commons	Freeware	Windows	tags	No	Yes, with external tools	Yes, with external tools	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	xml, can attach any files/folders. Support import from tiddlywiki and copy/paste with formats from browsers and Microsoft Word	bank-grade encryption/password protection, one-click blogging, wiki links, WYSIWYG editor, portable, no installations are required.
m> notes notepad	Proprietary	Freemium	Android	Notebooks, sub-notes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Text, photo, colors, icons, marks. Export via sharing Android function.	Organize notes and sub-notes into colored notebooks. Add photos to notes from camera or gallery
Memonic	Proprietary	Freemium	Android, iOS, Mac OS X, Windows XP/Vista/7/Mobile web-based	?	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	?	Yes	Notes stored as XML. Can attach any filetype.	Integrates into a number of different platforms.for free user only 100 notes supported.
Microsoft OneNote	Proprietary	Commercial software	Android, iOS (iPad, iPhone), Symbian, Windows XP/Vista/7/Mobile/Phone 7, web-based, mobile web	?	Yes	Yes	Yes^{[Note 4]}	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Proprietary	Supports inserting images, audio and video-recording, screen clipping and drawings. Supports importing from web pages or any Windows application by means of a virtual printer. Supports attaching files of any types to the note, similar to email attachments. Can search text, audio, pictures and handwritten input in Microsoft Tablet PCs. Files can by synchronized to multiple desktop PCs, laptops, mobile phone, a Windows Live SkyDrive account or to a SharePoint site.
MyInfo	Proprietary	Commercial software	Windows XP/Vista/7	?	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Proprietary, encrypted. Supports import from plain text, RTF, CSV, Ms Word, images. Exports to plain text, HTML, RTF, CSV, Ms Word.	Spell-checking, text styles, search in multiple files, import web pages, tags, filters, calendar, reminders, attachments.
MyNotex	GPL	Free	Linux	?	?	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Sqlite based, zipped attachments, export to HTML, copying as LaTeX	Features text formatting, file attachments, tagging, searching, notes management by subject, encryption with AES algorithm, text files and OpenOffice.org documents import. Multilingual.
Notational Velocity	GPL v3	Free	Mac OS X	?	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	TXT, RTF	Instant open and searching. Plain and RTF text only. Sync via dropbox, etc. or via SimpleNote service
Notee	LGPL	Free	Mac OS X, Windows XP/Vista/7, web-based	?	?	Yes	?	?	Yes	?	?	?	HTML	Simple and easy to use
Notizen .NET		Free	Windows XP/Vista/7	tree	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	TXT (ansi/unicode), RTF, ALX	Tree Notes can stick on the desktop, Encryption, FTP-Updoad
Okular	GPL	Free	Linux, Unix	?	?	No	Yes^{[Note 5]}	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	PDF, PS, TIFF, CHM, DjVu, DVI, XPS, ODF, various others	Can export PDF + notes, for sending to other Okular users
PDF Studio	Proprietary	Commercial software	Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, web-based	?	?	?	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	PDF	Review and markup PDF documents.
Personal Knowbase	Proprietary	Commercial software	Windows	tags	?	?	No	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	export to RTF, HTML, TXT, CSV	Supports tags, hypertext, attachments, passwords. Portable.
PDF Studio	Proprietary	Commercial software	Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, web-based	?	?	?	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	PDF	Review and markup PDF documents.
Qiqqa	Proprietary	Freemium	Windows XP/Vista/7	tags, brainstorm	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Proprietary, PDF, Brainstorm	Export all notes and annotations to RTF, Word or Brainstorm.
SilverNote^[3]	Proprietary	Freemium	Windows XP/Vista/7	tags	Yes	?	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	HTML, SVG	Drawing/sketching, web clipping, screen capturing, file attachments, encryption
TiddlyWiki	BSD	Free	Cross-platform (browser, web-based)	tags (wikiwords)	Via plugin	Yes	Via plugin	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	HTML	extensible via plugins and user scripts
Tomboy	LGPL	Free	Cross-platform	?	?	Yes	No	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	NoteXmlFormat, HTML, PDF, wiki-formats	Reminders, to do-lists, formulae in LaTeX
TreeDBNotes	Proprietary	Freemium	Microsoft Windows	tree	Yes	?	?	?	Yes	No	No	Yes	RTF, HTML, txt	tree-structured organizer
WikidPad	BSD	Free	Cross-platform	tags (wikiwords)	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	HTML	personal wiki software
Windows Journal	Proprietary	Commercial software	Windows XP Tablet PC edition, Windows Vista, Windows 7	?	No	?	No	?	Yes	Yes	Yes^{[Note 6]}	Yes	Proprietary
XLnotes	Proprietary	Commercial software	Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7	free form	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Stores notes inside Microsoft Excel workbook	Microsoft Excel add-in that allows to create notes which contain Word documents, web pages and attachmens
Xournal	GPL	Free	Linux, Windows, Mac OS X	?	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	XML, export to PDF
Zim	GPL	Free	Cross-platform	tags (wikiwords)	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes, using installed web browser	wiki text, LaTeX
Name	Software license	Cost	Platforms	Organizing principle(s)	Tabbed sections	Synchronizing	PDF annotate, save	Whiteboarding	Keyboard text entry	Write notes via pen-ink	Handwriting Recognition	Printing	Formats	Remarks

Formatted text features, others

Name	Drawing atop text	Text box, flow diagram	Outline bulleting with indent	Text and paragraph formatting	Insert hyperlink	Insert image	Insert table	Insert audio	Insert video	Insert SWF	Other objects	Attachment	Spell check	Search
AllMyNotes Organizer	?	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Alarms, check-boxes, bullets, phones, advanced links	Yes	Yes	Yes
AudioNote - Notepad and Voice Recorder	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	PDF background	No	Yes	Yes
BasKet Note Pads	?	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	tags (check boxes, etc.)	Yes	Yes	No
CintaNotes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Links to notes	No	No	Yes
Circus Ponies NoteBook	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Alarms, check-boxes, address book links, keywords, numbering, priority, due date, formulas in tables	Yes	Yes	Yes
DéjàClick	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Emacs' org-mode	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	advanced linking, bullets, tags, checkboxes, full spreadsheet, embedding of programming code, formulars, markup	Yes	Yes	Yes
Evernote	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Check-box, line, tags	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gnote	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Jarnal	Yes	?	No	Partial^{[Note 7]}	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	PDF as image or background	No	No	Yes
KeepNote	No	No	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	HTML	Yes	Yes	Yes
KeyNote	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Memonic	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Microsoft OneNote	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	OLE, bullets, line, flags	Yes	Yes	Yes
MyInfo	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	OLE, bullets, numbering, page breaks, advanced links	Yes	Yes	Yes
MyNotex	?	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	Yes	?	Yes
Notational Velocity	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Notee	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	HTML	?	?	Yes
Notizen .NET	?	?	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	Yes
Okular	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
PDF Studio	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Personal Knowbase	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Qiqqa	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	{PDF, brainstorm, citations,}	No	No	Yes
SilverNote	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	?	Yes	No	Yes
TiddlyWiki	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Tomboy	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
TreeDBNotes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
WikidPad	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Windows Journal	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
XLnotes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Web pages, HTML	Yes	Yes	Yes
Xournal	Yes	No	No	Partial	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	PDF background	No	No	No
Zim	?	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	No	No	No	LaTeX integration	Yes	Yes	Yes
Name	Drawing atop text	Text box, flow diagram	Outline bulleting with indent	Text and paragraph formatting	Insert hyperlink	Insert image	Insert table	Insert audio	Insert video	Insert SWF	Other objects	Attachment	Spell check	Search

Notes

^ No support for ink notes in Mac version. Cannot mix ink with text
^ One instance can be begun in server mode or a web server (webdav?) used. See manual page
^ No pressure sensitivity
^ OneNote 2010 and OneNote 2007 Service Pack 2 and beyond have it built in. A Save As PDF add-in is available for earlier versions of OneNote 2007.^[2]
^ Saved in separate file
^ Handwritten notes are searchable
^ Text only, no concept of paragraphs

References

^ AudioNote product page: http://luminantsoftware.com/iphone/audionote.html
^ Can save to PDF with this add-in: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4D951911-3E7E-4AE6-B059-A2E79ED87041&displaylang=en
^ SilverNote product page: http://www.silver-note.com/

Comparison of notetaking software

Contents

General features

Formatted text features, others

See also

Notes

References